The director of the travel company Arutyunov shared how not to become a victim of theft while on vacation.

      June 2, 2026 19:00 Society Russian tourists dreaming of a vacation on paradise islands are increasingly facing an unpleasant reality — cash thefts from hotel rooms. This turns a long-awaited holiday into a real nightmare, especially when there is no time for disputes, and hotel staff stop responding.

      The scam scheme: how does it work?

      One of the affected Russian women told 360.ru that her vacation in the Maldives resulted in a loss of $3,000. The money was brought to pay for additional services and tips for the staff. The couple often left tips, which, in their opinion, attracted the attention of hotel employees.

      The tourist noticed that the cleaning staff began to come to the villa too often and rearranging things. On the last day of their vacation during dinner, hotel staff constantly approached their table, asking about their departure time.

      In the evening, a cleaner brought beach towels that were unnecessary. After he left, the couple began to pack their things and discovered the money was missing. The money had been hidden in a passport cover, which disappeared along with the cash.

      The summoned butler, instead of helping, began to threaten that they would not be allowed to leave the island without paying for services. He also suggested that the money might have been taken by the couple's friends who left the hotel earlier. In the end, the butler offered to cancel their flight and wait for the police. This is a tried-and-true scheme to prevent guests from taking any action.

      The hotel services were eventually paid for by the travel agent who sent the couple to the resort. After settling the debt, the staff put the guests on a boat and said goodbye. The tourist tried to contact the hotel management, but all attempts were in vain — her comments were simply closed, and all means of communication were blocked.

      Another Russian woman, who went to the Maldives on her honeymoon, discovered the loss of $2,500 upon returning home. She was confident in her safety, as she left her diamond rings, expensive electronics, and cash in an envelope in her backpack.

      She paid the butler for services with money from the envelope. She didn't notice right away that a decent amount was missing. Upon arriving in Moscow, the couple decided to count their money and realized that $2,500 was missing. They accounted for all expenses and souvenir purchases at duty-free and understood that the amounts did not match.

      When she complained to the butler, the tourist quickly received feedback from the hotel. The manager promised to conduct an investigation, but a week later reported that the cause of the money's disappearance could not be determined.

      The girl later learned that this is a common practice in the Maldives, where money is stolen just before departure, especially from Russians who usually travel with cash.

      Why is it so easy to lose money in the Maldives?

      Dmitry Arutyunov, director of the travel company "Art-Tour," explained that the highest risks of losing money are borne by tourists who arrive in countries with a significant gap between the living standards of the local population and incoming guests. In the Maldives, this gap is particularly large: the island's population lives much poorer than tourists, creating temptation for hotel staff.

      Arutyunov also noted that complaints about missing money are quite frequent. Most often, tourists blame the maids who clean the rooms. There have even been investigations and searches of staff, but the money was never found.

      There was also another case where a tourist complained about the loss of part of his cash, but the culprit turned out to be his companion, who quietly took bills and blamed everything on the hotel staff.

      According to Arutyunov, when it comes to a large sum, sometimes it is easier to sacrifice the ticket home and wait for the arrival of tourist police. In the Maldives, this is easier to do since hotels are located on separate islands.

      How to protect yourself from theft?

      To avoid unpleasant situations, tourists should remember a few simple rules:

      

       Do not leave cash in plain sight. Even if you are confident in your safety, it is better to keep money in a safe or in a hard-to-reach place.

      

      

       Be cautious with tips. Do not leave excessively large amounts of tips, especially if you are unsure of the staff's honesty.

      

      

       Keep an eye on your belongings. Do not leave valuable items unattended, even if you are in a hotel room.

      

      

       Contact hotel management. If you suspect that your money has been stolen, immediately contact hotel management.

      

      

       Contact your travel agent. If the situation becomes critical, reach out to your travel agent for assistance.

      

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